Astronaut Jeanette Epps still can not tell us why NASA drew her from the historical space mission

NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps should be in the space right now. But instead, she's stuck on Earth.

In January, NASA announced unannounced that Epps – who was to become the first African-American astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station for a long time – would not be going to the airport. outpost in June after all.

No public reason has been given for the sudden reassignment, and Epps has not talked much about the situation so far.

SEE ALSO: The astronaut should be the first crew member of the African-American Space Station not to fly in 2018

On Thursday, Epps talked about why she was removed from the flight at the Tech Open Air conference in Berlin, Germany.

"Well, people have already been removed, but not in the same way as that, partly because I was so close to launching and I finished the backup flow," Epps said in a statement. interview with journalist Megan Gannon. had finished all his tests before the launch.

Epps also mentioned that she is still waiting for an explanation on why she was shot.

"I do not know when I will have an answer, and I hope it will come soon," added Epps. "I hope at the end of the summer."

The controversy swirled for months following NASA's decision to withdraw Epps. NASA has never explained exactly why Epps was reassigned, fueling accusations that there were racist or sexist motives behind the sudden change. Epps' brother has expressed these concerns in a Facebook post deleted since the NASA announcement.

When she was contacted about Epps' latest comments, NASA spokeswoman, Brandi Dean, explained that "flight assignment decisions are personnel matters for which NASA does not provide information.

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Its mission drew national attention when the space agency announced for the first time that it would become the first African-American astronaut to live and work on the space station in the 20 years or so. History of the laboratory.

Other African-American astronauts have already visited the station, but Epps would have been the first to play the role of full-fledged crew member on the $ 100 billion outpost.

Epps remains today NASA astronaut, although the agency has not publicly announced his assignment to another flight.

After being removed from her mission, Epps returned to Houston, Texas, and resumed work at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where her colleagues gathered around her.

"It's part of the surprise that I come back: there were a lot of people who were really supportive, old astronauts and people like that, who were very helpful and who m & # ## They really helped to find a solution. what happened, "said Epps.

"So, in a situation like that, which was pleasant, these are people I never thought I saw and who really helped me deal with many crazy situations. in other words. "

You can read a transcript of the Epps conference on collectSPACE.com.

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